NEW YORK (AFP) — Ghana-born midfielder Manu Duah, a 19-year-old midfielder for the University of California at Santa Barbara, was selected by expansion side San Diego FC with the first pick in Friday’s Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft.

Duah started all 14 contests last season for the Gauchos, who went 8-3-3, and will be called upon to help the first-year club flourish when the 2025 MLS campaign begins in February.

The San Jose Earthquakes, who had the worst record in MLS last season with only six wins and three drawn from 34 matches, selected second and chose US defender Max Floriani from St. Louis University.

The Chicago Fire selected Wisconsin freshman forward Dean Boltz, an American, with the third pick, followed by Colorado taking Cornell forward Alex Harris and San Jose picking left-footed defender Reid Roberts from San Francisco fifth overall.

The 2025 MLS regular season will open on February 22 when New York City FC visits Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami.

The inaugural MLS regular-season match for the league’s 30th club, San Diego FC, will be on 23 February when the newcomers visit reigning MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy.